| Trachelium caeruleum | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Campanulaceae |
| Genus: | Trachelium |
| Species: | T. caeruleum |
| Binomial name | |
| Trachelium caeruleum | |
Trachelium caeruleum, common name blue throatwort, is a species of flowering plant in the family Campanulaceae native to the Mediterranean, where its native range includes Algeria, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, and Sicily. [2] It has also become naturalized in a few areas, including New Zealand, the Azores, and parts of mainland Europe. [2]
Growing to 120 cm (47 in) tall by 30 cm (12 in) wide, it is a woody-based erect herbaceous perennial, with oval leaves and dense cushions of violet-purple flowers in summer. [3] The specific epithet caeruleum means "dark blue". [4]
In temperate climates this plant is usually grown as a half-hardy annual for summer bedding schemes or planters. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. [5] [6] There are many cultivars with a variety of flower colors, including white, red, pink, and dark purple. [7]